Time management practice and associated factors among health professionals working in public and private hospitals in Dessie City, Northeast Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: Time management is a widely ignored concern in all types of organizations, including the healthcare system, despite its crucial role in the achievement of personal and organizational goals. Therefore, determining the practice of time management and its associated factors among health professionals is of paramount importance. Objective: We aimed to assess time management practice and associated factors among health professionals working in public and private hospitals in Dessie City, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from 24 March to 24 April 24 2021 among 660 health professionals (220 from private hospitals and 440 from public hospitals), who were randomly selected using a stratified sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was run separately for public and private hospitals. A p-value of < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were reported to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 615 participants responded to the survey, which resulted in a response rate of 93.2%. The magnitude of good time management practice among health professionals in both public and private hospitals was reported to be 57.1% (95% CI: 53.5-60.8%). However, the magnitude differed between public [50.1% (95% CI:45.5-54.7%)] and private hospitals [70.9% (95% CI: 63.5-76.7%)]. Living with families (AOR: 5.39, 95% CI: 1.84-15.77), satisfaction with compensation and benefits (AOR: 7.83, 95% CI: 1.97-31.16), satisfaction with work autonomy (AOR: 7.10, 95% CI: 1.94-25.95), and having a good plan (AOR: 3.42, 95% CI: 1.15-10.13) were statistically significant predictors of time management practice in private hospitals. Satisfaction with an organizational policy and strategy (AOR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.25-4.36), performance appraisal (AOR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.13-3.36), work autonomy (AOR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.12-3.27), and the good approach of employees toward time (AOR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.26-3.58) were statistically significant predictors of time management practice in public hospitals. Conclusion: The magnitude of a good time management practice in public and private hospitals in the study area was low. The practice was observed to be higher in private hospitals than in public hospitals. The study revealed that the magnitude and associated factors of time management practice vary between hospitals, indicating the need for targeted intervention.

Ameliorative Potential of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Versus Prednisolone in a Rat Model of Lung Fibrosis: A Histological, Immunohistochemical, and Biochemical Study.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease of unknown origin with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. The encouraging findings from preclinical investigations utilizing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) indicated that they could serve as a promising therapeutic alternative for managing chronic lung conditions, such as IPF. The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) versus prednisolone, the standard anti-inflammatory medication, in rats with bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis. Four groups were created: a control group, a BLM group, a prednisolone-treated group, and a BM-MSCs-treated group. To induce lung fibrosis, 5 mg/kg of BLM was administered intratracheally. BLM significantly increased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers. The disturbed lung structure was also revealed by light and transmission electron microscopic studies. Upregulation in the immune expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor beta-1, and Bax was demonstrated. Interestingly, all findings significantly regressed on treatment with prednisolone and BM-MSCs. However, treatment with BM-MSCs showed better results than with prednisolone. In conclusion, BM-MSCs could be a promising approach for managing lung fibrosis.

LCMS-Metabolomic Profiling and Genome Mining of Delftia lacustris DSM 21246 Revealed Lipophilic Delftibactin Metallophores.

Bacteria have evolved various strategies to combat heavy metal stress, including the secretion of small molecules, known as metallophores. These molecules hold a potential role in the mitigation of toxic metal contamination from the environment (bioremediation). Herein, we employed combined comparative metabolomic and genomic analyses to study the metallophores excreted by Delftia lacustris DSM 21246. LCMS-metabolomic analysis of this bacterium cultured under iron limitation led to a suite of lipophilic metallophores exclusively secreted in response to iron starvation. Additionally, we conducted genome sequencing of the DSM 21246 strain using nanopore sequencing technology and employed antiSMASH to mine the genome, leading to the identification of a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) matching the known BGC responsible for delftibactin A production. The isolated suite of amphiphilic metallophores, termed delftibactins C-F (1-4), was characterized using various chromatographic, spectroscopic, and bioinformatic techniques. The planar structure of these compounds was elucidated through 1D and 2D NMR analyses, as well as LCMS/MS-based fragmentation studies. Notably, their structures differed from previously known delftibactins due to the presence of a lipid tail. Marfey's and bioinformatic analyses were employed to determine the absolute configuration of the peptide scaffold. Delftibactin A, a previously identified metallophore, has exhibited a gold biomineralizing property; compound 1 was tested for and also demonstrated this property.

Untangling the Derogenes varicus species complex in Scandinavian waters and the Arctic: description of Derogenes abba n. sp. (Trematoda, Derogenidae) from Hippoglossoides platessoides and new host records for D. varicus (Müller, 1784) sensu stricto.

Several studies have shown that the euryxenic trematode Derogenes varicus (Müller, 1784) represents a species complex. Four lineages have been designated (DV1-4) with the DV1 clade corresponding to D. varicus sensu stricto. Herein, we investigate newly collected specimens of D. varicus sensu lato from Scandinavian and Arctic waters using integrative taxonomy. The trematodes were collected from Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Eutrigla gurnardus, Trachinus draco, and Merluccius merluccius off the Atlantic coast of Sweden and from Hippoglossoides platessoides from Arctic Svalbard. 28S sequences of derogenids from Sweden were identical to D. varicus sensu stricto, confirming its euryxeny. The 28S sequences of Derogenes sp. from H. platessoides were identical to Derogenes DV2 and differed from D. varicus sensu stricto by 3% and from Derogenes DV3 by 2%. The 28S sequence divergences of Derogenes sp. from H. platessoides with D. ruber and D. lacustris were 3 and 10%, respectively. ITS2 and cox1 divergences between Derogenes sp. from H. platessoides and other Derogenes species/lineages were at levels of interspecific differences. The species from H. platessoides is described here as D. abba n. sp. We also examined the type material of Progonus muelleri (Levinsen, 1881), the type and only species of the genus Progonus, with redescription and designations of paralectotypes. Based on specimens from Theodor Odhner's collections at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, SMNH, Stockholm, we provide novel morphological and anatomical data for D. varicus sensu lato species complex. Lastly, we investigated Arthur Looss's "lost collection" of Trematodes at the SMNH and characterised a putative species Derogenes sp. "limula".

Title: Démêler le complexe d'espèces Derogenes varicus dans les eaux scandinaves et arctiques : description de Derogenes abba n. sp. (Trematoda, Derogenidae) parasite d'Hippoglossoides platessoides et nouveaux signalements d'hôtes pour D. varicus (Müller, 1784) sensu stricto. Abstract: Plusieurs études ont montré que le trématode euryxene Derogenes varicus (Müller, 1784) représente un complexe d'espèces. Quatre lignées ont été désignées (DV1­4), le clade DV1 correspondant à D. varicus sensu stricto. Ici, nous étudions des spécimens nouvellement collectés de D. varicus sensu lato dans les eaux scandinaves et arctiques en utilisant la taxonomie intégrative. Les trématodes ont été collectés de Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Eutrigla gurnardus, Trachinus draco et Merluccius merluccius au large de la côte atlantique de la Suède et d'Hippoglossoides platessoides du Svalbard arctique. Les séquences 28S des Derogenidae de Suède étaient identiques à D. varicus sensu stricto, confirmant son euryxénie. Les séquences 28S de Derogenes sp. de H. platessoides étaient identiques à Derogenes DV2 et différaient de D. varicus sensu stricto par 3% et de Derogenes DV3 par 2%. Les divergences des séquence 28S de Derogenes sp. de H. platessoides avec D. ruber et D. lacustris étaient respectivement de 3 et 10%. Les divergences ITS2 et cox1 entre Derogenes sp. de H. platessoides et d'autres espèces/lignées de Derogenes se situaient à des niveaux de différences interspécifiques. L'espèce de H. platessoides est décrite ici comme Derogenes abba n. sp. Nous avons également examiné le matériel type de Progonus muelleri (Levinsen, 1881), type et seule espèce du genre Progonus, avec une redescription et des désignations de paralectotypes. Sur la base de spécimens des collections de Theodor Odhner au Musée suédois d'histoire naturelle (SMNH), Stockholm, nous fournissons de nouvelles données morphologiques et anatomiques sur le complexe d'espèces de D. varicus sensu lato. Enfin, nous avons étudié la « collection perdue ¼ de Trématodes d'Arthur Looss au SMNH et caractérisé une espèce putative, Derogenes sp. « limula ¼.

A Review of Artificial Intelligence in Breast Imaging.

With the increasing dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, the important prospects for their application have extended to various medical fields, including domains such as in vitro diagnosis, intelligent rehabilitation, medical imaging, and prognosis. Breast cancer is a common malignancy that critically affects women's physical and mental health. Early breast cancer screening-through mammography, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-can substantially improve the prognosis for breast cancer patients. AI applications have shown excellent performance in various image recognition tasks, and their use in breast cancer screening has been explored in numerous studies. This paper introduces relevant AI techniques and their applications in the field of medical imaging of the breast (mammography and ultrasound), specifically in terms of identifying, segmenting, and classifying lesions; assessing breast cancer risk; and improving image quality. Focusing on medical imaging for breast cancer, this paper also reviews related challenges and prospects for AI.

Bonding of Composite Cements Containing 10-MDP to Zirconia Ceramics Without Dedicated Ceramic Primer.

PURPOSE: To measure zirconia-to-zirconia microtensile bond strength (µTBS) using composite cements with and without primer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two Initial Zirconia UHT (GC) sticks (1.8x1.8x5.0 mm) were bonded using four cements with and without their respective manufacturer's primer/adhesive (G-CEM ONE [GOne] and G-Multi Primer, GC; Panavia V5 [Pv5]), and Panavia SA Cement Universal [PSAu], and Clearfil Ceramic Plus, Kuraray Noritake; RelyX Universal (RXu) and Scotchbond Universal Plus [SBUp], 3M Oral Care). Specimens were trimmed to an hour-glass shaped specimen whose isthmus is circular in cross-section. After 1-week water storage, the specimens were either tested immediately (1-week µTBS) or first subjected to 50,000 thermocycles (50kTC-aged µTBS). The fracture mode was categorized as either adhesive interfacial failure, cohesive failure in composite cement, or mixed failure, followed by SEM fracture analysis of selected specimens. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects statistics (α = 0.05; variables: composite cement, primer/adhesive application, aging). RESULTS: The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences with aging (p = 0.3662). No significant difference in µTBS with/without primer and aging was recorded for GOne and PSAu. A significantly higher µTBS was recorded for Pv5 and RXu when applied with their respective primer/adhesive. Comparing the four composite cements when they were applied in the manner that resulted in their best performance, a significant difference in 50kTC-aged µTBS was found for PSAu compared to Pv5 and RXu. A significant decrease in µTBS upon 50kTC aging was only recorded for RXu in combination with SBUp. CONCLUSION: Adequate bonding to zirconia requires the functional monomer 10-MDP either contained in the composite cement, in which case a separate 10-MDP primer is no longer needed, or in the separately applied primer/adhesive.

B cell heterogeneity in human tuberculosis highlights compartment-specific phenotype and functional roles.

B cells are important in tuberculosis (TB) immunity, but their role in the human lung is understudied. Here, we characterize B cells from lung tissue and matched blood of patients with TB and found they are decreased in the blood and increased in the lungs, consistent with recruitment to infected tissue, where they are located in granuloma associated lymphoid tissue. Flow cytometry and transcriptomics identify multiple B cell populations in the lung, including those associated with tissue resident memory, germinal centers, antibody secretion, proinflammatory atypical B cells, and regulatory B cells, some of which are expanded in TB disease. Additionally, TB lungs contain high levels of Mtb-reactive antibodies, specifically IgM, which promotes Mtb phagocytosis. Overall, these data reveal the presence of functionally diverse B cell subsets in the lungs of patients with TB and suggest several potential localized roles that may represent a target for interventions to promote immunity or mitigate immunopathology.

The Prevalence and Predictors of Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease in Rheumatic and Non-rheumatic Valvular Heart Disease Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The paradox of concurrent coronary artery disease (CAD) among patients with rheumatic and non-rheumatic valvular heart disease (RVHD; non-RVHD) is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the RVHD and non-RVHD on the prevalence of CAD and various risk factors, assess the number of diseased coronaries, clinical profile and the possible predictors of CAD in these patients, which may clarify the paradox and provide an insight for the prevention of CAD. METHODS: The records of 106 valvular heart disease patients who had undergone valve replacement surgery at the King Faisal Cardiac Centre from January 2014 to October 2019 were evaluated. The clinical data and established risk factors were compared and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify plausible predictors of CAD. RESULTS: Transthoracic echocardiographic diagnosis of 106 patients confirmed, 43 had RVHD (56.4 ± 8 years), of whom six (13.9%) had CAD with the highest mitral valve regurgitation (p < 0.01), and 63 had non-RVHD (60.0 ± 12 years). Of these, 31 patients showed the highest CAD (49.2%). Single- and triple-vessel disease was most common in RVHD and non-RVHD patients with concurrent CAD (33.3%; 41.9%, respectively), while non-RVHD patients also had quadruple vessel disease. The mean age of the RVHD and non-RVHD patients with coexisting CAD was significantly higher (66.7 ± 5; 66.7 ± 8 years) than those without CAD (46.1 ± 12.0; 54.7 ± 20, respectively). RVHD patients showed a significantly lower prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, inflammatory cells, hepatorenal function markers, ejection fraction, and regional wall motion abnormality compared to RVHD patients with coexisting CAD (p < 0.01). Bivariate analysis indicated white blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils, gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT), bilirubin and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) to be significantly lower in RVHD patients. Predictors of high risk of CAD were BUN and hyperlipidaemia for RVHD and BUN, creatinine and GGT for non-RVHD patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CAD in Saudi RVHD patients was significantly lower than in the Western countries, whereas non-RVHD was higher. The low prevalence may partly be attributed to age, reduced mitral regurgitation, and low frequency of risk and inflammatory factors.

Technical and financial feasibility of a chemicals recovery and energy and water production from a dairy wastewater treatment plant.

Due to the high volume of wastewater produced from dairy factories, it is necessary to integrate a water recovery process with the treatment plant. Today, bipolar membrane electrodialysis units (BMEUs) are increasingly developed for wastewater treatment and reutilizing. This article aims to develop and evaluate (technical and cost analyses) a combined BMEU/batch reverse osmosis unit (BROU) process for the recovery of chemicals and water from the dairy wastewater plant. The combined BROU/BMEU process is able to simultaneously produce water and strong base-acid, and reduce power consumption due to the injection of concentrated feed flow into the BMEU. A comprehensive comparative analysis on the performances of two combined and stand-alone BMEU configurations are developed. The proposed combined technology for dairy factory wastewater treatment is designed on a new structure and configuration that can address superior cost analysis compared to similar technologies. Further, the optimal values of permeate flux and current density as two vital and influencing parameters on the performance of the studied dairy wastewater treatment process were calculated and discussed. From the outcomes, the total cost of production in the combined configuration has been reduced by approximately 26% compared to the stand-alone configuration. Increasing the feed concentration rate using the batch reverse osmosis process for the dairy wastewater treatment process can be an ideal solution from an economic point of view. Moreover, point (current density, feed concentration rate, total unit cost) = 328.9 , 7 , 14.37 can be considered as an optimal point for the economic performance of the studied wastewater treatment process.

Design and fabrication of 3D-printed gastric floating tablets of captopril: effect of geometry and thermal crosslinking of polymer on floating behavior and drug release.

The present study aims to investigate the potential of the 3D printing technique to design gastroretentive floating tablets (GFTs) for modifying the drug release profile of an immediate-release tablet. A 3D-printed floating shell enclosing a captopril tablet was designed having varying number of drug-release windows. The impact of geometrical changes in the design of delivery system and thermal cross-linking of polymers were evaluated to observe the influence on floating ability and drug release. Water uptake, water insolubilization, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were performed to assess the degree of thermal cross-linking of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filament. The 3D-printed GFT9 was considered the optimized gastric floating tablet that exhibited >12 h of total floating time with zero floating lag time and successfully accomplished modified-drug release by exhibiting >80% of drug release in 8 h. The zero-order release model, with an r2 value of 0.9923, best fitted the drug release kinetic data of the GFT9, which followed a super case II drug transport mechanism with an n value of 0.95. The optimized gastric floating device (GFT9) also exhibited the highest MDT values (238.55), representing slow drug release from the system due to thermal crosslinking and the presence of a single drug-releasing window in the device.

Potential Biomedical Applications of Terbium-Based Nanoparticles (TbNPs): A Review on Recent Advancement.

The scientific world is increasingly focusing on rare earth metal oxide nanomaterials due to their consequential biological prospects, navigated by breakthroughs in biomedical applications. Terbium belongs to rare earth elements (lanthanide series) and possesses remarkably strong luminescence at lower energy emission and signal transduction properties, ushering in wide applications for diagnostic measurements (i.e., bioimaging, biosensors, fluorescence imaging, etc.) in the biomedical sectors. In addition, the theranostic applications of terbium-based nanoparticles further permit the targeted delivery of drugs to the specific site of the disease. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of terbium nanoparticles induced via reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause oxidative damage to the cell membrane and nuclei of living organisms, ion release, and surface charge interaction, thus further creating or exhibiting excellent antioxidant characteristics. Moreover, the recent applications of terbium nanoparticles in tissue engineering, wound healing, anticancer activity, etc., due to angiogenesis, cell proliferation, promotion of growth factors, biocompatibility, cytotoxicity mitigation, and anti-inflammatory potentials, make this nanoparticle anticipate a future epoch of nanomaterials. Terbium nanoparticles stand as a game changer in the realm of biomedical research, proffering a wide array of possibilities, from revolutionary imaging techniques to advanced drug delivery systems. Their unique properties, including luminescence, magnetic characteristics, and biocompatibility, have redefined the boundaries of what can be achieved in biomedicine. This review primarily delves into various mechanisms involved in biomedical applications via terbium-based nanoparticles due to their physicochemical characteristics. This review article further explains the potential biomedical applications of terbium nanoparticles with in-depth significant mechanisms from the individual literature. This review additionally stands as the first instance to furnish a "single-platted" comprehensive acquaintance of terbium nanoparticles in shaping the future of healthcare as well as potential limitations and overcoming strategies that require exploration before being trialed in clinical settings.

Advancements in the management of obesity: a review of current evidence and emerging therapies.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is the modern world's current epidemic, with substantial health and economic impact. This study aimed to provide a narrative overview of the past, currently available, and future treatment options that offer therapeutic and preventive advantages for obesity management. AREAS COVERED: Historically, rimonabant, and lorcaserin, were approved and used for managing non-syndromic obesity. Currently, orlistat, naltrexone/bupropion, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), and a few promising therapeutic agents are under investigation, including retatrutide, cagrilintide and orforglipron, which show promising weight reduction effects. We have developed a search string of the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), including the terms GLP-1 RAs, obesity, and weight loss. This string was then used to perform a systematic literature search in the database including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus up to January 31st, 2024. EXPERT OPINION: Managing obesity often requires medical interventions, particularly in cases of severe obesity or obesity-related comorbidities. Thus, it is important to approach obesity management holistically, considering individual needs and circumstances. In our opinion, consulting with healthcare professionals is crucial to developing a personalized plan that addresses both weight loss and overall health improvement.

Birth preparedness and complication readiness among recently delivered women in Hargeisa town, Somaliland: A community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: About 287,000 mothers lost their lives due to pregnancy and delivery in 2020 worldwide. Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is an approach used to utilize the timely use of skilled maternal and neonatal services. Preparing mothers for childbirth and against its dangers has great importance in reducing maternal mortality. Little is known about BPCR and influencing factors in Hargeisa town, Somaliland. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of BPCR and its associated factors among recently delivered women in Hargeisa. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in September 2022 among 300 women who delivered in the one-year time interval before the study period. A census was done to identify the women, and then they were selected by simple random sampling. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a pre-structured questionnaire. A woman was considered prepared for birth if she made preparations for at least three of the BPCR components. Data were cleaned, entered, and analyzed using SPSS V.25. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with a cut-point of 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: From a total of 300 women, 38.3% had good knowledge of BPCR, and only one-fourth (25%) were prepared for birth and its complications. Access and media usage (AOR = 9.64, CI 1.09-82.248), receiving health education about BPCR (AOR = 3.75, CI 1.01-13.87), giving birth at health institutions (AOR = 6.02, CI 1.39-25.95), and good knowledge of key danger signs of pregnancy (AOR = 0.017, CI 0.004-0.069) were factors significantly associated with BPCR practice. CONCLUSION: The study identified that the BPCR level was very low compared to many other studies. Such a low BPCR level may have a negative impact on maternal health and lives, hindering interventions conducted to reduce maternal mortality rates. All concerned bodies should consider the importance of awareness creation regarding BPCR in their core interventions.

Determinants of Health Care Providers' Attitudes Toward Safe Abortion Care in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Unsafe abortion is a serious reproductive health problem in developing countries including Ethiopia. The attitude of healthcare providers toward abortion is one of contributing factors to unsafe abortion. This study aimed to determine the pooled effect of healthcare workers' attitudes toward safe abortion care and its determinants factors in Ethiopia. Methods: Search engines such as Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and CAB Abstracts were used to find published studies where as Google and Google Scholar were used to find unpublished research. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. The analysis was performed using STATA 14 and the random-effects model was used to calculate the odds ratios of medical professionals' attitudes regarding safe abortion services. Study heterogeneity was assessed by using I2 and P-values. To evaluate the stability of pooled values to outliers and publication bias, respectively, sensitivity analysis and funnel plot were also performed. Results: A total of 15 published and unpublished articles with a sample size of 4060 were incorporated in this Review. The overall pooled prevalence of this study was 56% (95% CI: 45-67). Sex of participants (AOR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.57, 3.58), having training (AOR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.58, 5.17), Professional type (AOR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.04, 4.46), and knowledge of abortion law (AOR:2.26; 95% CI: 1.14, 4.46) were the determinants factors that significantly associated with health care workers' attitude toward safe abortion care. Sensitivity analysis shows that the pooled odds ratios were consistently stable throughout all meta-analyses, and the funnel plot shows no evidence of publication bias. Conclusion: Half of health care providers sampled among the pooled studies have favorable attitudes toward abortion services in Ethiopia; which could hamper women's access to safe abortion care. Sex, training, type of profession, and knowing abortion law were determinants of health care workers' attitudes toward safe abortion services. Stakeholders should emphasize improving the attitude of healthcare workers toward safe abortion care which has a vital role in reducing maternal mortality. Moreover, working on modifiable factors like training, assigning personnel whose professions align with the service, and updating care providers about abortion law is also the essential key point to improve their intentions to deliver the services.

Molecular targeted therapies for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: recent developments and clinical implications.

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is a common and potentially fatal type of skin cancer that poses a significant threat to public health and has a high prevalence rate. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin surface increases the risk of cSCC, especially in those with genetic syndromes like xerodermapigmentosum and epidermolysis bullosa. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathogenesis of cSCC is critical for developing personalized treatment approaches that are effective in cSCC. This article provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge of cSCC pathogenesis, emphasizing dysregulated signaling pathways and the significance of molecular profiling. Several limitations and challenges associated with conventional therapies, however, are identified, stressing the need for novel therapeutic strategies. The article further discusses molecular targets and therapeutic approaches, i.e., epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, hedgehog pathway inhibitors, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors, as well as emerging molecular targets and therapeutic agents. The manuscript explores resistance mechanisms to molecularly targeted therapies and proposes methods to overcome them, including combination strategies, rational design, and optimization. The clinical implications and patient outcomes of molecular-targeted treatments are assessed, including response rates and survival outcomes. The management of adverse events and toxicities in molecular-targeted therapies is crucial and requires careful monitoring and control. The paper further discusses future directions for therapeutic advancement and research in this area, as well as the difficulties and constraints associated with conventional therapies.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and its associated factors among diabetes mellitus patients in Dessie Referral Hospital, South Wollo, Ethiopia.

Diabetes mellitus shares a large proportion of kidney failure. Despite many patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and its complications in Dessie City, no study was conducted in the study area that shows the prevalence and associated factors of chronic kidney disease among diabetes mellitus patients. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and its associated factors among adult diabetes mellitus patients attending Dessie Referral Hospital, South Wollo, Northeast Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Dessie Referral Hospital among 267 randomly selected adult diabetic patients. Data were collected using questionnaires administered by interviewers. The glomerular filtration rate was estimated from serum creatinine levels. Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to determine the strength of association for the associated factors of chronic kidney disease. Variables with a p value < 0.05 were used to ascertain statistically significant associations. A total of 267 diabetic patients participated in this study. About 104 (39%) of the respondents were female and from the total, 133 (48.1%) were hypertensive. The overall prevalence of chronic kidney disease in this study was 31.5% (95% CI 25.3-37.1%). Being older (p-value = 0.003) and having hypertension (p-value = 0.043) were significant factors for chronic kidney disease among diabetes mellitus patients. This study found a high prevalence (31.5%) of chronic kidney disease among diabetic patients. Older age, having hypertension, and elevated serum creatinine were statistically significant associated factors of chronic kidney disease among patients with diabetes mellitus. Thus, clinicians should be aware of the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Dessie City. Moreover, emphasis should be given for old age and hypertension as contributing factors to the high prevalence in diabetic patients.

Microneedle combined with iontophoresis and electroporation for assisted transdermal delivery of goniothalamus macrophyllus for enhancement sonophotodynamic activated cancer therapy.

The underlying study was carried out aiming at transdermal drug delivery (TDD) of Goniothalamus macrophyllus as sono-photo-sensitizer (SPS) using microneedle (MN) arrays with iontophoresis (MN-IP), electroporation (MN-EP) in conjunction with applying photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and sono-photodynamic therapy (SPDT) as an up-to-date activated cancer treatment modality. Study was conducted on 120 male Swiss Albino mice, inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) divided into 9 groups. We employed three different arrays of MN electrodes were used (parallel, triangular, and circular), EP, IP with different volts (6, 9, 12 V), an infrared laser and an ultrasound (pulsed and continuous wave) as our two energy sources. Results revealed that parallel 6 V TDD@MN@IP@EP can be used as effective delivery system for G. macrophyllus from skin directly to target EAC cells. In addition MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus is a potential SPS for SPDT treatment of EAC. With respect to normal control mice and as opposed to the EAC untreated control mice, MN@EP@IP TDD G. macrophyllus in the laser, ultrasound, and combination activated groups showed a significant increase in the antioxidant markers TAC level and the GST, GR, Catalase, and SOD activities, while decrease in lipid peroxidation oxidative stress parameter MDA levels. In addition significantly increased apoptotic genes expressions (p53, caspase (3, 9), Bax, and TNF alpha) and on the other hand decreased anti- apoptotic (Bcl-2) and angiogenic (VEGF) genes expressions. Moreover significantly ameliorate liver and kidney function decreasing ALT, AST, urea and creatinine respectively. Furthermore MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus combined with SPDT was very effective at reducing the growth of tumors and even causing cell death according to microscopic H&E stain results. This process may be related to a sono- and/or photochemical activation mechanism. According to the findings, MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus has a lot of potential as a novel, efficient delivery method that in combination with infrared laser and ultrasound activation SPDT demonstrated promising anticancer impact for treating cancer.

Nanoparticles and Chemical Inducers: A Sustainable Shield against Onion White Rot.

This study investigated the effectiveness of nanoparticles and chemical inducers in managing onion white rot caused by Sclerotium cepivorum. The pathogen severely threatens onion cultivation, resulting in significant yield losses and economic setbacks. Traditional fungicides, though effective, raise environmental concerns, prompting a shift toward eco-friendly alternatives. In this study, four S. cepivorum isolates were utilized, each exhibiting varying degrees of pathogenicity, with the third isolate from Abu-Hamad demonstrating the highest potency. During the in vitro studies, three nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated, including Fe3O4 NPs, Cu NPs, and ZnO NPs, which demonstrated the potential to inhibit mycelial growth, with salicylic acid and Fe3O4 NPs exhibiting synergistic effects. In vivo, these nanoparticles reduced the disease incidence and severity, with Fe3O4 NPs at 1000-1400 ppm resulting in 65.0-80.0% incidence and 80.0-90.0% severity. ZnO NPs had the most positive impact on the chlorophyll content, while Cu NPs had minimal effects. At 1000 ppm, Fe3O4 NPs had variable effects on the phenolic compounds (total: 6.28, free: 4.81, related: 2.59), while ZnO NPs caused minor fluctuations (total: 3.60, free: 1.82, related: 1.73). For the chemical inducers, salicylic acid reduced the disease (10.0% incidence, 25.0% to 10.0% severity) and promoted growth, and it elevated the chlorophyll values and enhanced the phenolic compounds in infected onions. Potassium phosphate dibasic (PDP) had mixed effects, and ascorbic acid showed limited efficacy toward disease reduction. However, PDP at 1400 ppm and ascorbic acid at 1000 ppm elevated the chlorophyll values and enhanced the phenolic compounds. Furthermore, this study extended to traditional fungicides, highlighting their inhibitory effects on S. cepivorum. This research provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of these approaches, emphasizing their potential in eco-friendly onion white rot management.

Prenatal psychological distress and 11ß-HSD2 gene expression in human placentas: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The placenta acts as a buffer to regulate the degree of fetal exposure to maternal cortisol through the 11-Beta Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase isoenzyme type 2 (11-ß HSD2) enzyme. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of prenatal psychological distress (PPD) on placental 11-ß HSD2 gene expression and explore the related mechanistic pathways involved in fetal neurodevelopment. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, APA PsycInfo®, and ProQuest Dissertations for observational studies assessing the association between PPD and 11-ß HSD2 expression in human placentas. Adjusted regression coefficients (ß) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled based on three contextual PPD exposure groups: prenatal depression, anxiety symptoms, and perceived stress. RESULTS: Of 3159 retrieved records, sixteen longitudinal studies involving 1869 participants across seven countries were included. Overall, exposure to PPD disorders showed weak negative associations with the placental 11-ß HSD2 gene expression as follows: prenatal depression (ß -0.01, 95% CI 0.05-0.02, I2=0%), anxiety symptoms (ß -0.02, 95% CI 0.06-0.01, I2=0%), and perceived stress (ß -0.01 95% CI 0.06-0.04, I2=62.8%). Third-trimester PPD exposure was more frequently associated with lower placental 11-ß HSD2 levels. PPD and placental 11-ß HSD2 were associated with changes in cortisol reactivity and the development of adverse health outcomes in mothers and children. Female-offspring were more vulnerable to PPD exposures. CONCLUSION: The study presents evidence of a modest role of prenatal psychological distress in regulating placental 11-ß HSD2 gene expression. Future prospective cohorts utilizing larger sample sizes or advanced statistical methods to enhance the detection of small effect sizes should be planned. Additionally, controlling for key predictors such as the mother's ethnicity, trimester of PPD exposure, mode of delivery, and infant sex is crucial for valid exploration of PPD effects on fetal programming.